Ian Ziering Almost Turned Down 'Sharknado' (VIDEO)

He Almost Turned Down 'Sharknado'

"Sharknado" is easily the biggest pop culture phenomenon of the summer, but it could've looked very different. One of the Syfy movie's stars, Ian Ziering, recently admitted that he almost turned down the project because of the script, which left something to be desired.

“When I first read the script, there were a lot of holes in it. There was a lot of trepidation in even doing this, because I wasn’t sure it was going to be a success,” Ziering told "Access Hollywood Live" (above). “There were just so many holes in the script, I mean, how were they going to do this? ... My manager assured me there were going to be 300-plus visual effects in this movie and I said, ‘Oh. OK.'"

Ziering, who called "Sharknado" his "Pulp Fiction" and "Bruce Willis" moment, credits his wife and one scene in particular for convincing him to say yes to the movie. "I was kinda [hesitant] but [my wife] was like, ‘We’ve got two kids, you’re going to work, do it. You’re going to work,’” he told "Access Hollywood Live." “As a father you’ve gotta do everything to provide for your family ... When I saw the scene where I get to chainsaw my way out of the belly of a shark? I just needed that on film so I could show that to my kids one day and grandkids and let them know that Grandpa Ian was pretty cool,” Ziering added with a laugh.

During a recent appearance on HuffPost Live, Ziering also revealed he discussed "Sharknado" with his former "Beverly Hills, 90210" co-star Jason Priestley over lunch before the made-for-TV movie nearly broke the internet. "I was telling him about this 'Sharknado' movie and [said,] 'What have I gotten myself into?' But I was excited about it," he explained. "Look what it's become."

Shortly after the original aired, Syfy ordered a "Sharknado" sequel -- set in New York this time -- which Ziering told HuffPost Live he is "definitely down" to star in. "It was so much fun. I had a blast working with those people," he added. "Clearly there's a need and a want for this kind of filmmaking."

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